THE MGLB GENE, A POSSIBLE VIRULENCE DETERMINANT OF PORCINE BRACHYSPIRA SPECIES

摘要

The genus Brachyspira includes two important pathogens of pigs, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Brachyspira pilosicoli that cause swine dysentery and porcine colonic spirochaetosis respectively. B. innocens, B. intermedia, and B. murdochii are considered to be non-pathogenic. Identification of Brachyspira species is based on culture and phenotypic characterisation or molecular-based techniques (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] testing). Recently varying degrees of virulence have been detected within B.hyodysenteriae and atypical pathogenic Brachyspira species have been recognised.